📖 Words B2

눈치채다

nunchichaeda

To sense / Notice / Pick up on

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What it means

To notice or sense something — often a subtle cue, change in mood, or unspoken feeling — that was not directly stated. A compound of 눈치 (social awareness) and 채다 (to catch/detect).

Nuance & when to use

Implies noticing something others might miss. Positive use of 눈치, which usually refers to the ability to read social situations.

⚠ Common mistake

Confusing with 알아채다 (to realize/notice). Both are similar but 눈치채다 specifically involves picking up on social or emotional cues.

Example sentences

제가 화난 걸 눈치챘어요? Jega hwanan geol nunchichaesseoyo? Did you sense that I was angry?
그분이 먼저 눈치채고 나갔어요. Geubuni meonjeo nunchichaego nagasseoyo. That person picked up on it and left first.
아무도 눈치채지 못했어요. Amudo nunchichaejji mothaesseoyo. Nobody noticed.

See also

눈치 알아채다
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FAQ

When is this used?

Implies noticing something others might miss. Positive use of 눈치, which usually refers to the ability to read social situations.

What's a common mistake?

Confusing with 알아채다 (to realize/notice). Both are similar but 눈치채다 specifically involves picking up on social or emotional cues.

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